Del Norte: Brutal murderer sentenced to 47 years to life

Editor's note: This report contains graphic content that some readers may find disturbing.

CRESCENT CITY -- Former mixed-martial artist Jarrod Wyatt was sentenced today for brutally mutilating and murdering his friend after drinking psychedelic mushroom tea.

Wyatt, 27, pleaded guilty last month to first degree murder involving mayhem, with a special enhancement for using a weapon. He received 47 years to life in prison.

Wyatt had previously entered dual pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity, leading to multiple psychiatric examinations. A Del Norte County judge ruled in May 2012 that Wyatt was competent to stand trial.

Wyatt murdered his friend Taylor Powell, 21, in the early morning hours of March 21, 2010, after the two men and two other acquaintances reportedly took psychedelic mushroom tea. Wyatt later attacked Powell, brutally killing him by ripping his heart out while he was still alive.

According to court documents, Wyatt was arrested after Del Norte County Sheriff's Department deputies and Yurok Tribal Police arrived at a Requa home near the mouth of the Klamath River, finding him naked and covered in blood from head to toe. When officers approached Wyatt, the documents state he told the officers, "I killed him," and said he had cut out Powell's heart and tongue.

Officers searched the residence and found Powell dead on the couch, his chest cut open, his heart, tongue and the skin of his face removed, court documents said. An autopsy determined that the organs had been removed while Powell was still alive. What was later determined to be Powell's heart was found charred in a wood-burning stove in the residence, according to Dr. Neil Kushner, who performed the autopsy.

At the time of the plea deal, defense attorney James Fallman said Wyatt decided at the last minute that he didn't want to take the stand, and didn't want his family members to testify. He said a plea deal was the only way to give Wyatt the opportunity to go before a parole board at some point in the future.